Pre-Independence

On November 15, 1817, the Uruguayan Navy was born when José Gervasio Artigas wrote a letter of marque to Juan Murphy, Corsair Officer of the La Fortuna under the stamp of the Arms of the Republic authorizing the plundering of Portuguese shipping. This is considered the birth of the Navy and celebrated as Navy Day.

The clear vision of Artigas towards maritime affairs is evident in the following six measures that he considered necessary: (1) the defense of the autonomy of the provincial ports; (2) creation of a river merchant marine; (3) organization of a river squad; (4) pursuit of the Corsican pirates; (5) opening of inland rivers to international trade and navigation and (6) promulgation of customs regulations.

Following independence, a navy was established under Colonel Pablo Zufriategui, a veteran of the Thirty-Three Oriental campaigns. As Captain General of the Ports, he fought against smuggling and in 1832 led the first naval battle as Captain of the schooner Eagle battling the pirate ship Exquist and driving it from Uruguayan waters.

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